Understanding Ocean Governance

Introduction and Overview of Ocean Governance

Explore the tabs below to learn about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, areas beyond national jurisdiction and how maritime zones are determined, and some of the global and regional ocean governance mechanisms that exist today.

Governance Overview

Legend
Organization
Agreement
International NGO
Industry body
UN OCEAN member (2026)
Ocean Law

DOALOS

UNCLOS

ITLOS

UNGA

Fishing & Mariculture

FAO

UNFSA

PSMA

FAO Compliance Agreement

RFMOs

Cape Town Agreement

Biodiversity

UNEP

CITES

CBD

CMS

IUCN

IWC

BBNJ Agreement

Pollution & Climate

UNFCCC

London Convention and Protocol

Paris Agreement

Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol

Development

UNDP

Law Enforcement

UNODC

INTERPOL

WCO

Science & Environment

UNESCO

Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention

IPBES

RSCAPs

World Heritage Convention

Shipping

IMO

BWM Convention

MARPOL

SOLAS

Anti-Fouling Convention

Seabed & Mining

ISA

UNCLOS Part XI Agreement

Mining Code

In development

ICPC

Human Rights

UN Human Rights

ILO

Trade

UNCTAD

UNCITRAL

WTO

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

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